Dot-and-dash telegraph receiver



April 9, 1946A. B.v E* AMBROSIO 2,39%@

DOT AND DASH TELEGRAPH RECEIVER Filed Deo. 14, 1944 7 sheets-sheet '1 I/\S @D $.15; Q hl l E I @ll o u (q @e Q w N ATTORNEY April 9, 1945 B. F;AMBROSIO 293975909 l DOT AND DASH TELEGRAPH RECEIVER Filed Dec. 14, 1944'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 w VJ 89 HQ@ INVENTOR Apr 9, 1946. B. F. AMBRoslo2,397,909v

DOT AND PASE TELEGRAPH RECEIVER V Filed De 14 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 7Lwf Fumo. f

A'ToRNEY April 9, 1945- B. F. AMBRoslo 2,397,909 l DOT AND DASHTELEGRAPH RECEIVERv Filed Dec. 14, 1944 7 sheets-sheet 4 /1 MSX@ /EFVTG/w/J/W/f 0L P HGAZ. /86

l .INV NTOR 0. a i

ATT'QRNEY April 9', 1946. B. F. AMBRoslQ 2,397,909

DOT AND DASH TELEGEAPH RECEIVER y 4 "Filed Dec. 14, 1944 7 sheets-sheet5 INVENTOR ffm Mr ATTORNEY Apri1-9, i946. B. F. AMBRoslo DOT AND DASHTELEGRAPH RECEIVER Filed Dec 14, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.14.

M6] THM ATTORNEY April-9, 1945- B. F. AMBRoslo DOT AND DASHTELEGRAPH-RECEIVR Y Filed De. 14, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 f FIG. '17,

1INVENTOR fz;

BY afb MH/ I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDOT-AND-DASH TELEGRAPH RECEIVER York Application December 14, 1944,Serial No. 568,107

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a telegraphic recording machine- Its primaryobject is to provide an improved machine for making a printed record ofmessages sent in a code composed of successively transmitted markingsignal elements of different time values, separated by spacing signalelements. This type of code is referred to herein as a dot-dash code.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a machine of thiskind which is reliable in operation and not subject to disturbances byextraneous influences,

Another object is to provide a mechanism voperating in response todot-dash code signals to control the permutation bar mechanism of atelegraph printer.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the kind described which isself regulating to conform to the rate of transmission.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View showing the comparative timingmechanism in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the timing mechanism, seen from the left.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a clutch and contact operating magnet.

Fig. 4 is a. time diagram illustrating the manner in which dots, dashes,and spaces of different length are distinguished.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the distributor escapement.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the distributor in sideelevation.

Fig. '7 is a plan View of the distributor.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus.

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram of a relay translator forming part of theapparatus.

Fig. 12 is a diagram of a set of permutation bars for a printer formingpart of a modified apparatus.

Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram of said modified apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a simplified vertical sectional view of the printer used inthe first embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a detail view of part of the control mechanism of thepermutation bar mechanism of the printer shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a part. of the distributor used in thesecond, embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a detail view of one of the clutch control devices used inthe second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view and circuit diagram of the speedregulating means.

The invention is exemplied by an apparatus adapted to be controlled byMorse code signals. This code is composed of marking signal elementshaving diierent time values, called dots and dashes, separated byspacing signal elements. If the dot is taken ashaving the basic timevalue t, the dash has a time value 31E. A space between signal elementsrepresenting a single letter has the value t, while a space betweenletters has the value 3i, a space between Words 5t, and a space callingfor carriage return it or more. While the speed of sending may vary,these relations remain substantially constant.

The printer is controlled by a set ofsignal storing devices which aremade ready in pairs during the reception of successive signal elementsrepresenting a single character, one or the other storage device of eachpair being operated, in dependence upon whether the signal element to bestored is a dot or a dash. The selection is controlled by comparingincoming signal elements with a ilxed time measuring device, which isstarted the instant a marking condition 0f the line begins. If themarking condition ends bei'ore the fixed time ends, the dot storingdevice is operated while, if the fixed time ends rst, the dash storingdevice of the pair is operated. 1n a similar way spacing line conditionsare compared with fixed time measuring devices which are set inoperation successively while the spacing condition continues. If the rstof the latter timing devices completes its time measuring iunctionbefore the spacing condition ends, the printer is caused to operate,printing the character determined by the signal elements stored at thetime. If the second of the space condition measuring devices completesits timing function before the spacing condition ends, it operates thespace bar of the printer, indicating the end of a word. If the thirdspacing condition timing device completes its timing function. beforethe spacing condition ends, it causes the carriage return key of theprinter to be operated.

Timing devices The timing devices are shown in Figs. 1 3. Two timingshafts I and I I are rotatably mounted upon bearing supports I2 securedto a base plate I3. The shaft I0 is driven Iby a motor Iii throughgearing I 5. The shaft I0 is geared to the shaft II by a Vreducinggearing I6 which causes the latter shaft to rotate in the same directionas the former, but at a speed ratio of 3:5.

There are four timing devices, identified generally as DD, the dot-dashtiming device, P, the print timing device, S, the space timing device,and CR, the carriage return timing device. The timing device DD is forcomparison with marking signal elements, to differentiate dots (1t) fromdashes (Bt). The timing device P is for comparison with spacing signalelements to difierentiate spaces (1t) between signal elements of asingle letter from the longer spaces (3i) between letters, which callfor printing of the letter represented by the stored signal elements.The timing device S is for comparison with a spacing conditioncontinuing after the timing device P has ycompleted ts function, todetermine whether the total space is long enough (5t) to indicate theend of a word, which would call for `the operation of the space bar ofthe printer. The timing device CR is for comparison with a spacingcondition continuing after the timing device S has completed itsfunction, to determine whether the total space is long enough (7i) toindicate the end of a line, which Would call for the operation of thecarriage return key of the printer.

Each timing device comprises a commutator, 25, 2l, 22, or 23, secured toa sleeve 25 which is revolubly mounted on the shaft I3 or I! and isrevolubly carried in the related bearing support l2. At the left end ofeach sleeve is fixed a clutch disk 25 having pivoted to it (Fig. 2) aclutch dog 2B urged by a spring 21 toward engagement with a ratchetwheel 28 fixed to the shaft I or I I. The dog 26 is normally helddisengaged by an arm 2Q secured to the armature 33 (Fig. 3) of a clutchmagnet 3|. .When the clutch magnet is momenn tarily energized, the dogis released and engages the ratchet wheel, setting the clutch disk andthe related commutator in rotation. Theclutch magnetis deenergizedshortly, as will be explained presently, and the arm 29 returns toposition to disengage the clutch dog at the end of one revolution, atwhich time a spring operated detent roller 32 enters a notch in theclutch disk to hold the latter in normal position.

The armature 30 also closes a pair of contacts 3 la when the magnet 3|is energized.

The commutator 20 of the dot-dash timing device has a strip ofinsulation 33 on its periphery, the rest of its surface beingconductive. (See also Fig. 10, where the commutators are shown asdeveloped surfaces. In this figure the space timing commutators arearranged in the order in `which they are set in operation, rather thanaccording to their location on the shafts.) There are three brushes, 34,35, and 36, bearing on the insulating strip 33 in the normal position ofthe commutator 20. The commutator 2I has a conductive strip 31 on whichtwo brushes 38 and 39 bear in lthe normal position of the commutator,its surface being of insulating material except for the strip 31. Thecommut'ator 22 is in three mutually insulated sections, 22a, b, c `eachhaving two brushes 40, 4l; 42, 43; 44, 45; bearing on it. Sec. tion -ahas a conductive strip 46 (Fig. 10) and `insulation 41; section b has aninsulating strip 48 and a conductive portion 45; section c has aconductive strip 5D and insulation 5I. The commutator 23 has insulation52 and a conductive strip 53 on which brushes 54 and 55 bear in thenormal position of the commutator.

Distributor The distributor for preparing the pairs of storage devicessuccessively to receive the incoming signal elements is shown in Figs.5-9. Upon a bracket 55 secured to a base plate 6I is mounted a stallmotor 62, that is, a motor which can exert a constant torque on itsshaft while the latter remains stationary, or turns slowly. Surroundingthe shaft 63 of this motor is a coil spring 54, the right end of whichis anchored to a flange 65 on the motor shaft. The left end of thespring is hooked over a crank pin 66 of the distributor shaft 61rotatably mounted in bearings i in the vertical walls of a support 69.Near its left end the dise tributar shaft 51 carries a brush 15 whichbears upon a contact disk 1I mounted on a support l2. The Contact diskhas six contacts, a, D, c, d, e, f (Fig. 9), each of which iselectrically connected to a terminal screw 13.l These terminal screwsare connected by wires (not shown) to binding posts 14 which can -beconveniently connected to certain relay contacts to be referred topresently in the description of the circuit diagram.

The rotation of the distributor shaft is controlled by an escapementmechanism. Fixed to the shaft is an escapement wheel 15 coacting withtwo pins 15 and 11 mounted on an arm 18 attached to a shaft 19 pivotallysupported in bearings in the vertical walls of the support 69. Theopposite end of the arm 18 is xed to an armature 8U actuated by astepping magnet MST. When the stepping magnet is energized, the arm isrocked clockwise (Figs. 5 and 8) against the action of a spring 8l,allowing a tooth of the wheel 15 to slip past the upper pin 16, underthe iniiuence of spring `64, while another tooth is caught by the lowerpin 11, after a half step rotation of the distributor shaft. When thestepping magnet is deenergized, the arm 18 is rocked back by the spring8|, the pin "it releases the escapement wheel, and the pin 16 stops thenext tooth of the escapement wheel behind the one which it previouslyheld. The normal position of the upper pin is determined by a set screw82 forming a stop for the armature 80.

In addition to the step-by-step movement just described, the distributorshaft may have a free movement to home position. For'this purpose theshaft 19 of the arm 18 is slidable in its bearings in the support 69 andcan be moved to the left, against the action of a spring 83, by an arm84 fixed to the armature 85 of a homing magnet MH. The armature ispivoted at 86 and is stopped by an abutment 81 adjustably attached tothe frame of the homing magnet. The ratchet wheel 15 has a tang 88making one of its teeth broader than the others. When the shaft 19 ismoved to the lleft by the energization of the homing magnet MH, theupper pin 16 is moved to the left clear of all the teeth' of the ratchetwheel except the broad tooth 8B. Thus, the distributor shaft revolvesunder the influence of the spring 64 until the broad tooth strikes theupper pin 16, the lower tooth 11 being at this time beyond the circledescribed by the extremities of all the teeth.

When the distributor shaft 51 is stopped inthe home position, vafterthehoming magnet has been energized, the'brush 10 bears upon the rstvcontact a of the distributor disk at the spot indicated by the dottedline circle 89 in Fig. 9. When the stepping magnet MST is energized, thebrush' moves to the spot indicated by the dotted circle 90. When thestepping magnet is deenergized, the brush moves to a spot indicated bythe dotted line circle 9| on the second Contact segment b. Thus thebrush does not leave a Contact segment until the stepping magnet isdeenergized.

Prin-ter The printer is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 and is similar to theone disclosed in Patents 2,165,247 and 2,278,981. The machine comprisesa typewriter 90, of the type disclosed in Patent 1,936,466, and apermutation bar control mechanism 9| for operating its keys. The typebars (not shown) are actuated by a power driven roller 9 2. A cam 93 isprovided for each type bar and each cam is journaled on one arm of arelated bell crank lever 94 pivoted in the fra-me, the other arm of thebell crank lever being operatively connected with one arm of a relatedbell crank lever 95 by means of a link 96. The other arm of lever 95 isconnected to the related type bar (not shown) in well known manner (SeePatent 1,936,466).

The lever 94 is actuated by the cam 93 when the latter is made to engagethe driven roller 92 by operation of a related key lever 91. The cam 93is engaged by a spring pressed arm 98 which tends to turn it intocontact with the roller 92, but is normally restrained by a stop 99 on alever |99 pivoted on the bell crank 94, which stop normally stands inthe path of a lug on the cam. When the lever swings to move its stop outof the path of the lug, the arm 98 swings the cam into engagement withthe power roller, to be actuated thereby, to swing the bell crank 94 toactuate its connected mechanism.

The lever |00 has an arm |0| which is provided with an offset projectionat its end, which projects laterally through an opening in th'e bellcrank lever 94 and between the tangs of the bifurcated lower end of anarm |02 of the key lever 91 pivoted on the common rod |03. Depression ofthe key lever will rock the lever |00 and release the cam 93 asdescribed.

Each key lever 91 is connected by a link |04 to a related control lever|05 pivoted on a common rod |09 and urged downward by a spring |01against a set of six revoluble permutation bars |08, bearing theindividual numbers I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In line with the control lever |05the permutation bars have slots |09, the slots on the bars I, 3, and 5being on the top side, while those on the shaft 2, 4, and 6 are on thebottom side. If the bars 2, 4, and 6 are revolved while the bars I, 3,and 5 remain stationary, all the bars will present slots to theparticular control lever |05 shown in Fig. 14, which will therefore rockdownward under the influence of the spring |01, actuating the relatedkey lever 91. The arrangement of the slots |09 aligned with each of th'econtrol levers |05 is different, as more fully disclosed in Patent2,165,247, so that by rotating different combinations of the permutationbars |08 different keys will be actuated.

The driving and control means for the selective rotation of thepermutation bars has the construction disclosed in Patent 2,278,981,Fig. 2' of which is duplicated herein as Fig. 15. Under the permutationbars is a drive shaft Ill) driven by a belt I I I from the power roller92. The shaft IIO has a driving gear |I2 at each' end meshing with agear |I3 fixed to a short shaft II4. The shafts'II4 at opposite ends ofthe permutation bars are journaled concentrically to diierentintermediately positioned permutation bars 3 and 4, respectively, andtheir gears I I3 mesh with -similar gears (not shown) on short shaftsjournaled concentrically to alternately positioned permutation bars;that is, the short shafts concentric to permutation bars and 5 aregeared to the short shaft concentric to the permutation bar 3, at oneend, while at the other end the short shafts concentric to thepermutation bars 2, 4, and 6 are similarly geared together.

Each short shaft I|4 has on its inner end a ratchet toothed drive wheelII5 positioned to be engaged by a tooth' |I6a on a sliding dog IIB of aclutch I|1 mounted on the end of the related permutation bar. Theengagement of the tooth I |951 is controlled by a bell crank lever I I8pivoted at I I9 and having an armature |20 attached thereto operated bya selector magnet, the magnet appearing in Fig. 15 being M3. The bellcrank I I8 can be rocked in the opposite direction by an arm |2Iattached to the armature of a magnet MP. For constructional reasonsfully disclosed in Patent 2,278,981 it requires a clockwise, then acounterclockwise movement of the bell crank I I8 to release the dog I I6of the clutch II1 for engagement of th'e tooth IIEa with the ratchetwheel I|5 for a full revolution thereby. These movements are imparted tothe bell crank by the successive energization of the magnets M3 and MP,in a manner to be described presently. There are six selector magnetsMI-MG, one for each permutation bar, but only two print magnets MP, onefor each group of three selector magnets.

Operation The operation of the apparatus will now be described byreference to the circuit diagram, Fig. l0, and the timing diagram, Fig.4. The upper line of the timing diagram, marked pulsa represents thefollowing marking and spacing signal elements: dot, dash, dot, letterspace, dot, word space and carriage return. The timing shaft motor I4,the distributor motor 92, and the printer motor |29 are supplied withcurrent from a D. C. supply when the switch |30 is closed, throughpositive wire I3I, and wires |28, |21; |26, |25; and |24, |23,respectively, to the negative wire |34. When the switch |30 is closedthe line relay R9 is assumed to be deenergized, due to a spacingcondition of the line. This is indicated by the irst rectangle in theline representing the P clutch 25 (CL. P.) in the timing diagram. Atthis time a circuit extends from positive wire I3I, through the normallyclosed contacts R911, wire |32, normally closed contacts RI Ia of relayRI I, magnet MII and wire |33 to the negative wire |34, energizing saidmagnet. The P clutch is released and the commutator 2| begins torevolve, moving its insulation immediately under the two brushes, 38,39. The contacts MIIa (corresponding to contacts Ela in Fig. 3) areclosed by the armature of magnet MII, completing a circuit from the wire|32, through said contacts, relay RII and wire |33 to the negative wire|34. The contacts RI Ia. b of relay RII transfer, completing a holdingcircuit for said relay and breaking the circuit of the magnet MII, thearmature of which returns to the normal position in which it will stopthe P clutch after one revolution. The contacts RI Ic close, but withoutimmediate eifect because the contacts 38, 39 are on an insulatingportion of the commutator.

In accordance with the example, it is assumed that a marking pulsearrives before the commutator 2| completes its revolution. The linerelay R3 is thereby energized vand its contacts Rga, b transfer,breaking the holding circuit of relay R|| whose contacts Rl la, 'b andRl |c return to normal position. The ,energzation of the line relay R9completes a circuit through its contacts R9?) through normally closedcontacts Rl ila, magnet MIU and wire |35 to the negative wire |34,energizing said magnet. The DD clutch is released and the commutator 20begins to revolve. When the insulating strip 33 moves from under thethree brushes 34, 35, 36 the following circuits are completedimmediately: from the positive wire |3 through contacts R319, dot-dashrelay RDD, brush 34, commutator 23, brush 35, wire |33, to the negativewire |34; also from the positive wire |3| through fixed time relay RFX,brush 35, commutator 20, brush 36, wire |35, to the negative wire |34.The relays RDD and RFK are thus energized simultaneously and transfertheir contacts RDDcL-e and RFXct-e at the same instant. No circuit iscompleted by this simultaneous transfer of the contacts.

Meanwhile, the contacts Mllla closes, completing a circuit from thepositive wire |3l, through the contacts Rllb, said contacts Mla, relayRl@ and wire |35 to the negative wire. The contacts Rma, b transfer,completing a holding circuit for the relay RIU and breaking the circuitof the magnet MIU, which allows the clutch dog releasing arm '.19 toreturn to normal position, whereby the DD clutch will be released afteron revolution. The contacts Rc close, completing a holding circuit forrelay RDD which by-passes the commutator 2U and allows the relay RDD toremain energized as long as the line relay R9 remains energized.

In accordance with the example, the marking pulse, being a dot,terminates before the DD clutch completes its revolution, whereby therelay RDD is deenergized before the relay RFX. The contacts RDDa-etransfer back to normal position, completing the following circuit: fromthe positive wire |3|, through wire |37, contacts RFXe in transferredposition, wire |33, contacts RDDc in normal position, stepping relay RSTand stepping magnet MST in parallel, to the negative wire |34. Thestepping magnet MST allows the distributor brush to step forward on thefirst segment a of the distributor disk, but without leaving thesegment. The contacts RSTa-d close, completing the following circuit:from positive wire |3|, through wire |31, relay RIB, wire |39, contactsRFXa in transferred position, contacts RSTa, now closed. contacts RDDain normal position, wire |40, distributor segment a, distributor brush16, and wire |4| to the negative wire |34. The storage relay RIB isthereby energized, closing its holding contacts RlBa to complete aholding circuit from the relay, through said contacts, wire |42, brush42, commutator section 22h, brush 43, wire |43 to the negative wire |34.

When the commutator 23 completes its revolution and is stopped in homeposition, the insulating strip 33 of the commutator moves under thebrushes 35, 35, breaking the circuit of relay RFK, which is therebydeenergized. The contacts RFXa-e return to normal position, breaking thepreviously traced circuit through relay RST and stepping magnet MST. Thedistributor brush 'lil then moves to the second Contact seg'- ment b ofthe distributor 7|.

The return of the contacts RSa to normal closed position at the end ofthe rst marking pulse completed the previously traced circuit throughmagnet M l| and caused the P clutch to be released and the relay Rll tobe energized as previously described. Once again, in accordance with theexample, the next marking impulse begins before the ccmmutator 2|completes its revolution and the relay Ril is deenergized by thebreaking of its circuit when the contacts Rta open. At the same time thepreviously traced circuit through the magnet Ml is again completed andthe DD clutch is released and the relay RI@ energized as before. Therelays RDD and RFK are simultaneously energized and their contacts againtransfer to the left simultaneously. In accordance with the example,relay R3 remains energized until after the commutator 23 completes itsrevolution, hence this time the relay RFX is the first to bedeenergized. The Contacts RFXa-e return to normal position, com--pleting the following circuit: from positive wire |3l, through wire E37,contacts RDDe in transferred position, wire i133, contacts RFXe innormal position, relay RST and magnet MST in parallel, to the negativewire, energizing said relay and said magnet. The distributor brush I0steps forward on the second distributor segment b, but does not leaveit. The contacts RSTa-d' close, completing' the following circuit: fromthe positive wire |3l, through wire |31, relay R2A, wire llfl, contactsRDDb in transferred position, contacts RSTb, now closed, contacts RFXbin normal position, wire |45, distributor segment b, brush 'lil and wirelill to the negative wire |34, energizing said relay. The contacts R2Aaclose, completing a holding circuit similar to the one previously tracedfor relay RlB. When the second marking pulse ends, the relay R3 isdeenergized, its contacts Rb open and the relays RDD and Rl (l aredeenergized. The contacts RDDa-c return to normal position, breaking thecircuit of relay RST and the stepping magnet MST. When the steppingmagnet is deenergized, the distributor brush 'it steps forward to thethird contact segment c.

The same sequences as those previously described occur during the spacefollowing the dash just stored and during the storing of the neXtmarking pulse, which the example shows to be a dot. It is evident fromthe procedure previously explained that the said dot signal element willcause the relay R3B to be energized. Thus, when the space following thethird marking signal element begins, there have been stored in thestoring relays a dot, a dash, and a dot. Reference to Fig. 11 will showthat the following circuits are thereby set up through the contacts ofthe storage relays to certain ones of the selector magnets Ml-M of theprinter:

l. From the positive wire |3| through selector magnet M2, wires |46,|41., contacts R4Bh and RllAc in normal position, R3Blc in transferredposition, RSA1 in normal postion, R2Ag and R lBd in transferredposition, and RIAd in normal position, to a wire |48 to be referred tolater.

2. From the positive wire -|3| through selector magnet M3, wires |49,|50, contacts RSBd in transferred position, RSAd in normal position,R2Ac and R|Bb in transferred position, and RlAb in normal position, vtowire |48.

3. From positivewire |3| through selector magnet M6, wires |5l, |52,contacts R3Ah in normal position, R2Ae and RlBc in transferred position,and RIAc in normal position, to wire 48.

The circuits through the storage relay contacts are represented in Fig.by dash lines |53.

When the contacts R9a drop back to normal closed position at the end ofthe third marking signal element, the magnet M|| is energized throughthe circuit previously described and the relay R| is picked upimmediately thereafter. This time the spacing condition continues untilthe commutator 2| has completed its revolution. When the contact strip31 of the commutator 2| moves under the brushes 38 and 39, circuits arecompleted from the positive wire |3| through selector relay RSL, andhoming magnet MH in parallel, brush 39, commutator strip 31, brush 39,relay contacts R| Ic, now closed, to the negative wire |34, energizingsaid relay and said magnet. At the same time a circuit is completed fromthe negative wire, through contacts Ra, wire |32, normally closedcontacts R|2a, magnet M 2, brush 38, commutator strip 31, brush 39 andcontacts RHC, to the negative wire |34, energizing said magnet. Thecontacts M|2a close, completing a circuit from Wire |32, through saidcontacts Ml2a, relay RIZ, brush 38, etc., to the negative wire |34,energizing said relay. The contacts R2a, b transfer, completing anobvious holding circuit for the relay R| 2 and breaking the circuit ofmagnet M|2. The S clutch is released and the commutator 22 begins torevolve.

The energization of the homing magnet MH causes the distributor brush 19to be restored to the home position, in the manner previously described.The contacts RSLa close, completing circuits from the positive wire |3|,the selector magnets M2, M3, and M6, the previously traced circuits |53through the contacts of the storage relays, wire |48, normally closedcontacts Rl-"a and said contacts RSLa, to the negative wire. Theselector magnets M2, M3, and M6 are thereby energized preparing arotation of the related permutation bars of the printer. Due to theconstruction of the clutch mechanism of these permutation bars, aspreviously mentioned, the actual rotation does not begin until the printmagnets MP are energized. When the commutator 22 has made about a halfrevolution, the contact segment 46 comes under the brushes 40, 4|,completing the following circuit: from the positive wire |3|, throughbrush 40, contact segment 46, brush 4|, wire |54, the print magnets MPand relay RP in parallel, to the negative wire |34. The contacts RPaopen, deenergizing the selector magnets, to remove current from thempromptly. The magnets MP are energized and release the clutches of thepermutation bars 2, 3, and 6 for one revolution. As described in Patent2,165,247, the rotation of these three permutation shafts causes theprinter to print the letter r corresponding to the Morse signal dot,dash, dot.

Shortly after the print magnet is energized in the manner described, theinsulating segment 48 of the middle section of the commutator 22 goesunder the brushes 42 and 43 and breaks the holding circuit of thestorage relays RIB, R2A, and R313. The relays are deenergized and theircontacts return to normal position.

The next marking signal element is a dot and it begins before thecommutator 22 completes its revolution. Contacts R9a open, breaking theholding circuit of relay R|2 and allowing the contacts R|2b to open andthe contacts R|2a to close. The dotis stored in the relay RI B in thesame manner as the rst dot. It is followed by a long space which causesvarious functions to be performed in sequence, as will now be described.

At the beginning of the space, the contacts R9a return to normal, closedposition and the magnet MII is energized, releasing the P clutch. Also,the relay Rl becomes energized and its contacts R| Ic close, all aspreviously described. When the commutator 2| completes its revolution,the relay RSL and the magnets MH and M|2 are energized, in the same wayas before. The distributor brush 10 returns to home position and the Sclutch is released. When the contacts RSLa close, the following circuitsare completed through the storage relay contacts:

l. From the positive wire |3|, through magnet Ml, wires |55 and |56,contacts R2Bc and R2Ac in normal position, RIBb in transferred position,and RIAb in normal position, to wire |48.

2. From the positive Wire |3|, through magnet M3, wires |49, |51,contacts R2Bg, and R2Ag, in normal position, RIBd in transferredposition, and RIAcZ in normal position, to wire |48.

When the commutator 22 has completed about half its revolution, theprint magnet MP and the relay RP are energized, the former causing theprinter to print the character e, since this is the character determinedby the rotation of the permutation bars and 3 of the printer. Thecontacts RPa open to dump the selector magnets M| and M3 Shortly after,the insulating segment 48 of the middle section b of the commutator 22breaks the holding circuit of the relay RAB, which becomes deenergizedand allows its contacts to return to normal position. This time thespacing condition of the line continues until the commutator 22 hascompleted its revolution, with the result that the following circuitsare established: from the positive wire |3|, through contacts R9a, Wire|32, the spacing magnet MS, brush 44, the contact segment 50 on thelower section c of the commutator 22, brush 45, contacts Rl2c, nowclosed, to the negative wire |34; also, from wire |32, through normallyclosedcontacts Rla, magnet MI3, wire |58, brush 44, and thence to thenegative wire |34 as previously traced, energizing the magnets MS andM|3. The CR clutch is released by the energization of magnet M|3 and thecommutator 23 begins to revolve. The contacts M|3a close, completing acircuit from Wire |32, through said contacts, relay R|3, wire |58, brush44, thence to the negative wire as before. Contacts R|3b close,completing a holding circuit for relay R|3 and contacts R| 3a open,breaking the circuit of magnet M|3.

The magnet MS operates the space bar |59 (Fig. 14) of the printerdirectly and causes the carriage to escape for one letter space.

When the commutator 23 completes its revolution, the contact segment 53thereof goes under the brushes 54, 55 and completes a circuit from wire|32 (relay R9 being still deenergized) magnet MCR, brush 54, contactsegment 53, brush 55, contacts Rl3c, no-W closed, to the negative wire34, energizing said magnet. The magnet MCR (Fig. 14) operates thecarriage return key (not shown) of the printer,

The example shows a marking signal occurring shortly after theenergization of the magnet MCR. This marking signal energizes relay R9,transferring the contacts R9a, b to the upper position and breaking thecircuits of relays RH, R|2, R|3 and magnets MS and MCR. The contacts RI|c open, breaking the circuits of relay RSL and magnet MH. The apparatusnow proceeds in the manner previously described to store and recordfurther signals.

Second embodiment Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs.12, 13, 16, and 17. The timing devices of this embodiment are, ingeneral, similar to those rst described and are, therefore, representedsemi-diagrammatically in Fig. 13. There are four timing devices DD, P,S, and CR, mounted on two shafts represented by dotted lines |60 andI6I, geared to rotate at 5:3 ratio' by gears |62 and driven by a motor(not shown). Each timing device comprises a clutch disk I 63 to which ispivoted a clutch dog |64 pulled by a spring I 65 toward a drivingratchet |66 xed to the shaft |68 or |6|. The clutch dog is normally heldout of engagement with the ratchet wheel by the bent over end |61 (Fig.1'1) of a pivoted detent arm |68 coacting with the bent over end |69 ofthe clutch dog. The detent arms |68 are held up by springs |10, untildrawn down by related magnets MII), MI I, MIZ, MI3, respectively. When amagnet is energized, the related rclutch detent arm moves downward andthe end of the clutch dog drops beyond the detent lug |61 of the detentarm, allowing the clutch dog to engage the related ratchet wheel |66. Ifthe magnet is still energized when the clutch completes its revolution,the clutch dog strikes a contact |1I insulatedly mounted on the clutchdetent arm by an insulating block |12.

Distributor The driving and control means for the distributor used inthe second embodiment is identical with the first embodiment, hence isnot shown in Fig. 16. The difference lies in the double commutator inthe second embodiment. On the distributor shaft 61 is an insulating head|15 on which are mounted two slip rings |16, |11. TwoY feeding brushes I18, |19 bear on the respective slip rings and are mounted in terminals,one of which appears at |80. Two brushes I8I, |82 are inserted indrilled holes in the head so as to make contact laterally with theflanges of the slip rings |16, |11, respectively. The ends of thebrushes IBI, |82 travelover two different sets of commutator segments|83, |84, held in an insulating block |85, The commutator segments |83and |84 are identified individually by the letters a, bi, c, d, e, f, toindicate the order in which the brushes |8I, |82 make contact with themas the distributor shaft steps forward (see also Fig. 13).

Printer The printer used in the second embodiment is, in general,similar to the one used in the rst embodiment, but has eight permutationbars, with appurtenant driving and control mechanisms, instead of six.This difference enables the signal elements to be stored directly in thepermutation bar control means of the printer, dispensing with thetranslator. The eight permutation bars are shown in Fig. 12. The notches|86 on the top side of the bars are in position to let the relatedcontrol lever |05 dropv when the permutation bar remains stationary,whilev the notches |81 on the bottom side allow the control lever todrop when the permutation bar rotates. There are four bars IB, 2B, 3B,and 4B, corresponding to dots, and four bars IA, 2A, 3A, and 4A,corresponding to dashes. The numbers I, 2, 3, 4 refer to the order oftheA signal elements, first signal element, second signal element` etc.

nfl.

'normal position.

For example, if the combination is received the bars IB, 2B, 3B, and 4Awill be revolved and the control lever |05 (Fig. 14) connected to the Vkey will be released. Due to the construction of the permutation barcontrol mechanism, previously described, the combination is rst storedby releasing selected permutation bar clutches to preparatory positionand releasing the selected clutches for simultaneous full rotation oftheir permutation bars, by operation of the print magnet.

Operation The operation of the second embodiment will be understood bestby following through the example shown in Fig. 4. When the switch |38 isclosed, a circuit is established from the positive side of the line I3I,contacts R90, in normal position, Wire |32, magnet MI I, to the negativewire |34, energizing said magnet and releasing the P clutch. Inaccordance with the example, the rst marking signal component isreceived before the P clutch completes its revolution, breaking thecircuit of magnet MII at the contacts F.9d and allowing the clutchdetent lever |68 to return to The dog of the P clutch is thereforestopped by the lug |61. The closure of the contacts R82) when the firstmarking signal begins completes a circuit from the positive wire I3I,through said contacts and magnet Mii] to the negative wire |34,energizing said magnet. The clutch detent |68 moves down and releasesthe DD clutch dog, which engages the ratchet wheel I 66 and the DDclutch starts to revolve. A commutator |98 connected to the DD clutchdisk and grounded to the shaft |60 moves its conductive portion |9|under the brushes |92, |34, completing the following circuits: from thepositive wire I3I, through contacts R619, relay RDD, brush |92,commutator segment I9I, shaft |68, wire |93, to the negative wire |34;also, from the positive wire I3I, through relay RF and brush E94 tocommutator segment ISI and wire |93 to the negative wire |34. The relaysRDD and HFX Y being energized simultaneously, their contacts RDD, y andRFX, y transfer at the same time without establishing any circuit. Therst signal component is a dot, hence the line relay R8 will bedeenergized before the DD clutch completes its revolution, deenergizingthe relay RDD. Contacts RDDx, y transfer back to normal position,completing the following circuits: from the positive wire I3 I, throughcontacts RDDa: in normal position, contacts RFX in transferred position,the stepping magnet MST and wire |65, to the negative Wire |34,energizing said magnet; also, from the positive Wire I 3|, throughcontacts RDDy in normal position, contacts RFXy in transferred position,wire |96, distributor brush |82, contact segment |84a, selector magnetMIB and Wire |95 to negative wire |36', energizingl said magnet.` Theenergization of the stepping magnet MST causes brushes |8I, |82 to stepforward on the rst segments 83a, |84a but without leaving said segments.The energization of the magnet MIB releases the clutchA I1l pertainingto thepermutation bar IB, to preparatory position. When the DD clutchcompletes its revolution, the brush |94 rides on to an insulatingA strip|91 on the commutator |68, breaking the circuit of relay RFX, whichbecomes deenergized.

Contacts RFXLU, y transfer to normal position, breaking the circuits ofthe stepping magnet MST and the selector magnet MIB. The selector clutchpertaining to the magnet MIB remains tripped, however, so that theclutch will be fully released upon energization of the print magnet, ina manner to be described. The deenergization of magnet MST allows thebrushes |8I, |82 to step to the second segments |831), |842). At the endof the rst marking signal component, the line relay R9 was deenergizedand the contacts RSa closed. A circuit was thereby completed throughmagnet MII, which became energized and released the P clutch. Thisclutch started on its revolution, but before the revolution wascompleted, the second marking signal component was received, breakingthe contacts R9a and deenergizing the magnet MII, so that the P clutchdog |64 stopped against the lug |61.

The second marking signal, which causes the DD clutch to be released andthe relay RDD and RFX to be energized as before, is a dash and thereforemaintains the marking contacts R9?) closed until after the clutch DD hascompleted its revolution. Therefore the detent arm |68 is held down bythe magnet MII) and the dog |64 is stopped by the contact I'II,completing a holding circuit for the relay RDD through wire |98, ContactI'II, dog |64, clutch disk |63, shaft |63, and wire |93 to the negativewire |34. The relay RFX is therefore deenergized before the relay RDD,completing the following circuits: from the positive wire |3I, throughthe contacts RFXa: in normal position, RDD in transferred position,stepping magnet MST, wire |95 to the negative wire |34, energizing saidmagnet; also, through contacts RFXy in normal position, contacts RDD'yin transferred position, wire |99, brush IBI, contact segment I83b,magnet M2A, to wire |95 and the negative wire |34. Thus, a dash isstored and when the relay RDD is deenergized the circuit of the steppingmagnet is broken and the deenergization of this magnet allows thebrushes ISI and |82 to advance to the third distributor segments |830,|840. In a similar manner another dot is stored in the magnet M3B.

During the space following the third marking signal component, themagnet MII remains energized until the P clutch has completed itsrevolution. The related dog |64 is therefore stopped by the contactcompleting the following circuits: from the positive wire |3I, throughcontacts R9a, wire |32, magnet MIZ, wire 299, contact I'II, dog |64,clutch disk |63, shaft |90, wire |93, to the negative wire |34; also,from wires |32, 20|, through magnets MP and MH in parallel, and throughwire 209 to the negative wire in the same way. The clutch S begins torevolve when the magnet MI 2 is energized, but before its revolution iscompleted the next marking signal component is received, breaking thecontacts R9a and deenergizing the magnet MIZ, so that the clutch dog |64of the S clutch stops against the detent lug |31. The energization ofthe homing magnet MI-I restores the brushes IBI, |82 to home position.The energization of the print magnet MP releases the permutation barsIB, 2A, 3B pertaining to those selector magnets MIB, MBA, MSB, whichwere energized. From the diagram, Fig. 12, it appears that therevolution of these three bars will present a complete line of notchesto the control lever |95 pertaining to the R key, and only this leverwill be operated.

In a similar way the storage of the fourth signal component, which isreceived after the printing of the character r in the manner described,causes the magnet MIB to be energized. This signal element is followedby a space of sufficient length to cause the print magnet MP to be (IIIoperated again, and this time as shown by the diagram (Fig. 12) thelever pertaining to the character e will be operated. At the same timethe magnet MP is energized to cause the character e to be printed, themagnet MIZ is energized to release the S clutch. This time the spacingcondition continues until the S clutch makes a complete revolution andstrikes the contact I. Thiscompletes circuits from the negative wire,wire |93, shafts |69, IBI, S clutch disk |63, and the related dog |64,contact I'II, thence branching through magnet MS, and through wire 202and magnet MI3, to wire |32, and through contacts R9a to the positivewire |3I, energizing said magnets. The magnet MS operates the space barof the printer (Fig. 14). The magnet MI3 releases the CR clutch, whichstarts a revolution. In accordance with the example, the spacingcondition continues until the CR clutch has made a complete revolutionand its dog |64 strikes the contact I'II, completing a circuit from wire|32, through the magnet MCR, contact |`I| dog |64, clutch disk |63,shafts |6I, |60, wire |93, to the negative wire |34, energizing saidmagnet. The magnet MCR operates the carriage return lever of theprinter.

Shortly after the magnet MCR is energized, another marking signal isreceived, which breaks the contact RSa and drops out the magnets MI I,MI 2, MI 3. The related clutch detents I 68 all rise to normal positionand the corresponding dogs E64 drop off the contacts onto the detentlugs |61.

Speed regulation The rate at which Morse code is transmitted will varywith the skill of the operator and with the transmitting conditions.However, the ratios of the length of the dot to the length of the dashand to the lengths of the various spaces remain fairly uniform. Aspreviously stated, if the dot is taken as having a basic time value t,the dash has a time value St. A space between signal elementsrepresenting a single letter has 'the value t, while a space betweenletters has the value 3f, and a space between words 5t. For the purposeof the present invention, a space having a length of 'It or more isallowed for carriage return.

In calculating rates of transmission in Morse code, it is customary toassign a length of 48t to the average word. At the rate of twenty wordsDer minute, an intermediate standard rate, there would be 960i perminute.

The timing mechanism in accordance with the present invention includes afixed time measuring device for establishing a length of time betweenthe length of a dot and the length of a dash, for comparison with theincoming marking signals, to distinguish dots from dashes. This fixedtime is determined by the time required for one revolution of thecommut-ator 29. It must be longer than It, the dot, but shorter than 2t,in order t0 restore the relay RFX within the time of a 1t spacefollowing a dot. Consequently, the fixed time measured by the commutator29 is conveniently made equal to 3/2t. To conform to signals transmittedat the rate of 960i per minute the speed of revolution of the commutator20, that isy of the shaft II'I, should therefore be 960 273:64() R. P.M.

In an apparatus actually constructed, the motor I4 drove the shaft I0 ata speed of 675 R. P. M., or 11.25 revolutions per second. The lengthofthe xed time was thus established as .089 second, a length of timesuitable for comparison with signals in which the length of t is.089=.060 second. The length of one average word composed of signalshaving this basic time value is .050 48:2.88 seconds, making a rate of(S/2.882.208 words per minute.

i're apparatus as described so far has a certain inherent tolerance forvariations in the rate of transmission. The rate might be reduced untilthe length of the dot is almost 3/2t and dots would still bedistinguished. On the other hand the rate might he increased until thelength of the dash is only a little more than 3/2f and clashes wouldstill be distinguished. The limits of the speed range are therefore fromabout 14 to 40 words per minute. However, it is preferred to maint-ainas wide a tolerance as possible and for this purpose, in accordance withanother feature of the invention, means are provided to vary the speedol the motor I4 automatically, in response to the incoming signals, inorder to vary the length of the basic time element t, to conform to therate at which the signals are being sent. The means for accomplishingthis automatic regulation is shown in Fig. 18, where the showing isreduced to those parts of the apparatus previously described, which aredirectly related to the speed regulating means.

The motor i4 is of the type having va governorl controlled speedregulator, which can be adjusted by means of an arm 2|!) movable over ascale 2li. The position of the arm 2|0 is controlled by a differentialgear comprising a cage 2|5 having gear teeth meshing with a gear 2|6fixed to the shaft 2| 'l on which the arm 2|0 is xed. Planet gears 2|8journaled on the cage 2|5 mesh with sun gears 2|9 and 220. The gears 2|Sand 22|: have ratchet teeth with which dogs 22| and 222 coact. The dogsare pivotally mounted on sliding shafts 223 and 224 and are pulledforward by springs 225 and 226. The ends of the shafts 223 and 224 carryarmatures 221 and 223 with which are associated electromagnets 229 and230. Ii these electromagnets are energized intermittently at the samerate, they will feed the sun wheels 2|9 and 220 at a uniform rate andthe cage 2 i5 will remain stationary and hold the arm 250 oi the speedregulator at a fixed position. If the electromagnet 22S is energized ata more rapid rate than the electromagnet 230, the arm will be movedclockwise, the direction to reduce the speed of the motor It. If theelectromagnet 230 is energized at a more rapid rate, the reverse actionwill take place.

The energization of the electromagnet 223 is controlled by a commutator235 on a shaft 235 connected `through gears 231 to the shaft il. Theshaft l is driven by shaft l0 through gears |li and the shaft Hl isdriven by the drive shaft of motor Ml. The ratios of the various gearsare such, that with the motor operating at its normal speed the shaft |0turns at 675 R. P. M., the shaft i turns at 4,05 R. P. M., and the shaft235 at 506 P.. P. M, The commutator 235 has a segment of insulation2350i and a conductive segment As conductive segment 2355 makes contactwith the brushes 238 and 239, a circuit is completed from the positivewire |3| through wire 250, brush 238, conductive segment 23519, brushwire 24|, electromagnet 229, wire 242, normally closed contacts RSLb andwire 243, to the negative wire |34, energizing said magnet 223 andpulling back the dog 22| over one tooth of the gear 2id. When theinsulating segment 235m moves under the brushes 238, 239, the magnet 225is deenergized and the dog 22| feeds the gear 2li) forward. This occurs506 times per minute when the motor is running at its normal speed.

The dot-dash commutator 2|) has an added section 20c, with a conductivesegment 250 eX- tending through about 240 of its circumference and anon-conductive segment 25| extending through the remaining In thelatched position of the DD clutch the conductive segment 250 lies underbrushes 252 and 253. When a dot signal is received by `the relay R9, andthe contacts R35 close, a circuit is extended from the wire iSi, throughsaid contacts R95, wire 254, brush 253, segment 250, brush 252, wire255, electromagnet 230, normally closed contacts RSL?) wire 243, to thenegative wire |34, energizing said electromagnet and drawing the dog 222back over one tooth of the gear 220. At the same time the DD clutch isreleased in the manner previously described and the commutator 25,begins to rotate. After about 120 of rotation, the brushes 252, 253 moveonto the insulating segment 25|, breaking the circuit of magnet 230 andallowing the dog 222 to feed the gear 220 forward. Before the insulatingsegment 25| passes the brushes 252, 253, the dot signal will have ended,if the signaling speed is not too far below the no1'- mal speed of 20words per minute, and the circuit of the electromagnet 230 will beopened at the contacts R91). If the signal had been a dash instead of a.dot, the contacts R91) would have been still closed when the insulatingsegment 25| passed beyond the brushes 252, 253, and the magnet 230 wouldhave been energized again before the DD clutch latched up at the end ofone revolution. Then, when the dash signal terminated and the contactsR91) finally opened, the relay magnet 230 would have been deenergizedand a second step of movement would have been imparted to the gear 220.

Summarizing the operation of the electromagnet 230, a dot causes it tooperate once while a dash causes it to operate twice. This conforms tothe time ratio of a dot plus the following space, which equals 2t, and adash plus the following space, which eqauls 4t. At thc rate of 20.8words per minute, the number of t elements per minute will be 20.8 4S orapproximately 1,000. The number of pulses of the magnet 23|] (one forevery 2t) will be 1000+2=500- Since this is slightly less than 506pulses given the magnet 223, at the normal speed of rotation of themotor` the arm 2li) of the speed regulator will move slightly clockwise,thus slightly reducing the speed of vthe motor. When the speed regulatoris set for a rate of transmission of about 20 words per minute the speedregulating mechanism is capable of responding to any rate oftransmission between about 15 and 30 words per minute and automaticallyadjusting the speed of the timing shafts, to reestablish the normaltolerance. When the speed regulator is in a dif ferent position the`range of rates to which it will automatically respond it correspondinglyshifted, so -that the total range is limited only by the speed range ofthe motor i4. With the scale 2| calibrated in words per minute a directreading of the rates of transmission is indicated.

The rates of marking and spacing time upon which the speed regulation isbased occur only during the successive reception of the signal elementsconstituting a single letter, consequently means are provided to disablethe circuits of the stepping magnets 229 and 230 during any space ofgreater length than 3/2t. For this purpose the circuits of magnets 229and 230 pass through normally closed contacts RSLb, which are opened bythe relay RSL -when a spacing condition lasts through a full revolutionof the commutator 2l, as previously described. During such spacing timethe -arm 2I0 will retain the setting it had when the relay RSL Wasenergized.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a relay responsiveto code signals and having normally open marking contacts closed on re'-sponse of said relay to a marking signal co-ndition, continuously readytiming means adapted, when started, to execute a timed control functionof fixed duration longer than a dot signal and shorter than a dashsignal, means operated upon closure of said marking contacts to startsaid timing means to initiate a comparison time starting approximatelysimultaneously with the start of a marking signal, and selective controlmeans operable in different ways in dependence upon whether said markingcontacts open before or after said timing means completes its controlfunction, said selective control means including an element controlledby said marking contacts and an element controlled by said timing meanson completing its control function.

2. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a relay responsiveto code signals and having normally open marking contacts closed onresponse of said relay to a marking signal condition, continuously readytiming means adapted, when started, to execute a timed control functionof fixed duration longer than a dot signal and shorter than a dashsignal, means operated upon closure of said marking contacts to startsaid timing means to initiate a comparison time starting approximatelysimultaneously with the start of a marking signal, two printing controldevices, and means controlling the selective energization of saiddevices, said last means including an element controlled by said markingcontacts and an element controlled by said timing means.

3. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a relay responsiveto code signals and having normally open marking contacts closed onresponse of said relay to a marking signal condition, continuously readytiming means adapted, when started, to execute a timed control functionof fixed duration longer than a dot signal and shorter than a dashsignal, means operated upon closure of said marking contacts to startsaid timing means to initiate a comparison time starting approximatelysimultaneously with the start of a marking signal, a plurality of pairsof printing control devices, distributing means for conditioning onepair at a time for selective operation, means controlling the selectiveenergization of one of the conditioned pair of said devices, said lastmeans including an element controlled by said marking contacts and anelement controlled by said timing means on completing its controlfunction, and means for shifting said distributing means to condition adifferent pair after each selective energization,

4. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a relay responsiveto code signals and having normally open marking contacts closed onresponse of said relay to a marking signal condition and normally closedspacing contacts opened on response of said relay to a marking signalcondition, a plurality of continuously ready timing means each adapted,when started, to execute a timed function of fixed duration, one of saidtiming means being for mark comparison and having a timed functionlonger than a dot signal and shorter than a dash signal, another of saidtiming means being for space comparison and having a timed functionlonger than the space between marking code elements of the same letterand shorter than the space between letters, means for starting said markcomparison timing means upon closure of said marking contacts, means forstarting said space comparison timing means upon closure of said spacingcontacts, printing means and control means therefor comprising aplurality of groups of selectively operable devices and means forrendering said groups subject to the control of said mark comparisontiming means successively as successive signal elements of a singleletter are received, the devices of each group being selectivelyoperated in dependence upon Whether said marking contacts open before orafter said mark comparison timing means completes its timed function,and printing function control means rendered effective each time saidspacing contacts remain closed until after said space comparison timingmeans completes its timed function, to cause said printing means toprint a character determined by said selective control means.

5. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a printer havingprinting elements, selective control means therefor, printing functioncontrol means, and spacing function control means; a relay responsive tocode signals and having normally open marking contacts and normallyclosed spacing contacts respectively closed and opened on response ofsaid relay to a marking signal condition, a plurality of continuouslyready timing means each adapted, when started, to execute a timedfunction of fixed duration, one of said timing means being for markcomparison and having a timed function longer than a dot signal andshorter than a dash signal, a second one of said timing means being forspace comparison and having a timed function longer than the spacebetween marking code elements of the same letter and the space betweenletters, a third one of said timing means being for space comparison andhaving a timed function which, When added to the timed function of saidsecond timing means, makes a total time longer than the space betweenletters and shorter than the space between words, means operated uponclosure of said marking contacts to start said first timing means, meanssubject to the joint control of said marking contacts and said rsttiming means for setting up said selective control means in accordancewith the one or more marking code elements representing one letter, saidprinting function control means being subject to the joint control ofsaid spacing contacts and said second timing means so as to cause aprinting element selected by said selective control means to be operatedwhenever said spacing contacts remain closed until said second timingmeans completes its timed function, the starting of said third timingmeans being likewise subject to the joint control of said spacingcontacts and said second timing means, so as to occur whenever saidspacing contacts remain closed until said second timing means completesits timed function, and` said spacing function control means beingsubject to the joint control of said third timing means and said spacingcontacts,

' so as to be operated whenever said spacing contacts remain closeduntil said third timing means completes its timed function.

6, In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dash code type, a relay responsiveto code signals and having normally open marking contacts closed onresponse of said relay to a marking signal condition, continuously readytiming means adapted, when started, to execute a timed control functionof fixed duration longer than a dot signal and shorter than a dashsignal, a dot-dash relay having an energizing circuit controlled by saidmarking contacts, a fixed time relay having an energizing circuitcontrolled by said timing means, printing means, and selective controlmeans therefor jointly controlled by said dot-dash relay and said xedtime relay.

7. A telegraph receiver as described in claim 6, wherein said selectivecontrol means comprises a plurality of pairs of storage elements, anddistributing means for subjecting said pairs in succession to thecontrol of said dot-dash and fixed time relays, as successive markingcode elements of a letter are received by said receiving relay.

8. A telegraph receiver as described in claim 6, wherein said selectivecontrol means comprises a plurality of pairs oi storage elements, anddistributing means for subjecting said pairs in succession to thecontrol of said dot-dash and xed time relays, as successive marking codeelements of a letter are received by said receiving relay, a secondcontinuously ready timing means adapted, when started, to execute atimed control function of fixed duration longer than the space betweenmarking code elements of a single letter and shorter than the spacebetween letters, Said receiving relay having normally closed spacingcontacts opened on response of said receiving relay to a marking signalcondition, printing function control means jointly controlled by saidspacing contacts and said second timing means so as to operate saidprinting means, in accordance with the setting of said selective controlmeans, whenever said spacing contacts remain closed until said secondtiming means completes its timed function, and homing means operatedconcurrently with said printing function control means to restore saiddistributing means to home position.

9. A telegraph receiver as described in claim 3, wherein said pairs ofprinting control devices are clutch magnets controlling the operation ofrespective permutation members of a printing mechanism having separatepermutation members for dots and dashes in each of the successive signalelement positions of the code.

10. In a telegraph receiver for receiving code of the dot-dash type,signal timing means including a shaft, a variable speed motorcontinuously driving said shaft, and a timing device operated by saidshaft for distinguishing dots from dashes, two motor control means, oneoperated proportionally to the speed of said shaft, the other operatedproportionally to the rate at which the signals are received, and meanscontrolled jointly by said two motor control means for varying the speedof said motor.

ll. In a telegraph receiver for receiving code of the dot-dash type,signal timing means including a shaft, a variable speed motorcontinuously driving said shaft, and a timing device operated by saidshaft for distinguishing dots from dashes, two motor control means, oneoperated proportionally to the speed of said shaft, the other operatedin response to incoming signals, the dash signals causing the latter tooperate at a multiple of the rate caused by dot signals, and meanscontrolled jointly by said two motor control means for varying the speedof said motor.

12. In a telegraph receiver for receiving code of the dot-dash type,signal timing means including a shaft, a variable speed motorcontinuously driving said shaft, and a timing device operated by saidshaft for distinguishing dots from dashes, motor control means includinga differential mechanism comprising three interconnected members, motorspeed regulating means controlled by one of said members, two impulsingmeans acting oppositely upon the other two members, respectively, tomaintain said first member stationary when said impulsing means operateat the same rats and to move said first member in one direction or theother when said impulsing means operate at different rates, meansoperated by said shaft for intermittently energizing one of saidiin-pulsing means as said shaft rotates, and means operated independence upon the incoming signals for intermittently energizing theother one of said impulsing means.

13. A telegraph receiver as described in claim l2, wherein said meansoperated in dependence upon the incoming signals` energia-es the relatedimpulsing means in response to dash signals at a rate which is amultiple of the rate at which it energizes said impulsing means inresponse to dot signals lll. In a telegraph receiver of the dot-dashcode type, a relay responsive to code signals and having a contactdevice operated in one direction on response of said relay to a markingsignal condition and in the other direction on response of said relay toa spacing signal condition, continuously ready timing means adapted,when started, to execute' a timed control function of a substantiallyfixed duration longer than a dot signal and shorter than a dash signal,means controlled by said contact device and operated upon movement ofthe latter in said one direction, to startl said timing means toinitiate a comparison time starting approximately simultaneously withthe start of a marking signal condition, dot control means controlled bysaid contact device and adapted to execute a dot determining operationon movement of the latter in said other direction before said timingmeans completes its timed control function, and dash control meanscomprising means controlled by said timing means adapted to execute adash determining operation on completion of said timed control functionbefore said contact device moves in said other direction.

BIAGIO F. AMBRosIo.

